Rb/1bSr isochrons for the granitic plutons around Farsund,southern Norway

The granitic and charnockitic intrusions in the Precambrian migmatites around Farsund in southern Norway have previously been shown to be successively intruded as well as being geochemically different. Rb- and Sr-isotope data support the conclusion that they are intruded with a separate time interval and that the Farsund charnockite is younger (852±41 m.y.) than the Lyngdal hornblende granite (932±38 m.y.). Furthermore, the different initial ratios (0.7128 and 0.7054, respectively) disprove a comagmatic origin unless large-scale contamination has occurred.     

Improving modelling and inversion in refraction seismics with a first-order Eikonal solver

A first-order Eikonal solver is applied to modelling and inversion in refraction seismics. The method calculates the traveltime of the fastest wave at any point of a regular grid, including head waves as used in refraction. The efficiency, robustness and flexibility of the method give a very powerful modelling tool to find both traveltimes and raypaths. Comparisons with finite-difference data show the validity of the results. Any arbitrarily complex model can be studied, including the exact topography of the surface, thus avoiding static corrections. Later arrivals are also obtained by applying high-slowness masks over the high-velocity zones. Such an efficient modelling tool may be used interactively to invert for the model, but a better method is to apply the refractor-imaging principle of Hagedoorn to obtain the refractors from the picked traveltime curves. The application of this principle has already been tried successfully by previous authors, but they used a less well-adapted Eikonal solver. Some of their traveltimes were not correct in the presence of strong velocity variations, and the refractor-imaging principle was restricted to receiver lines along a plane surface. With the first-order Eikonal solver chosen, any topography of the receiving surface can be considered and there is no restriction on the velocity contrast. Based on synthetic examples, the Hagedoorn principle appears to be robust even in the case of first arrivals associated with waves diving under the refractor. The velocities below the refractor can also be easily estimated, parallel to the imaging process. In this way, the model can be built up successively layer by layer, the refractor-imaging and velocity-mapping processes being performed for each identified refractor at a time. The inverted model could then be used in tomographic inversions because the calculated traveltimes are very close to the observed traveltimes and the raypaths are available.     

Analysis and application of a non-conventional underwater geoelectrical method in Lake Geneva,Switzerland

The electrical method presented is used for determining the resistivity of lake-bottom sediments and is based on the d.c. electrical sounding principles. The electrode array, called the fishing rod (FR), is of pole-pole type and is orientated vertically on a line perpendicular to the surface of the water. The technique is used for mapping resistivity anomalies located deep underwater. This paper presents an analysis of the resolution capabilities of the FR method and the results of a case study carried out in Lake Geneva, where measurements were interpreted using a one-dimensional (1D) multilayer earth model. The analysis of the uncertainty in the model parameters of a 1D multilayer earth model is carried out using the covariance matrix of the linearized inversion problem. The results of the analyses show that when the thickness and resistivity of the water layer is known, the resistivity of the sediment layer is well determined under most circumstances. The thickness of the sediment layer is well determined when resistivity contrasts are not too low. In Lake Geneva the FR method has been used to study an old depression with a resistive channel. This application shows the efficiency of the method compared with conventional electrical methods, where water depth becomes a limiting factor. The use of an automated iterative inversion scheme in this particular case is advantageous, as a joint interpretation of the three different data sets measured with the FR method can be carried out. Finally, the result of the inversion is compared with the trial-and-error interpretations of a previous study.     

Nuclear and incommensurate magnetic structure of NaFeGe2O6 between 5?K and 298?K and new data on multiferroic NaFeSi2O6

The compound NaFeGe₂O₆ was grown synthetically as polycrystalline powder and as large single crystals suitable for X-ray and neutron-diffraction experiments to clarify the low temperature evolution of secondary structural parameters and to determine the low temperature magnetic spins structure. NaFeGe₂O₆ is isotypic to the clinopyroxene-type compound aegirine and adopts the typical HT-C2/c clinopyroxene structure down to 2.5?K. The Na-bearing M2 polyhedra were identified to show the largest volume expansion between 2.5?K and room temperature, while the GeO₄ tetrahedra behave as stiff units. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show a broad maximum around 33?K, which marks the onset of low-dimensional magnetic ordering. Below 12?K NaFeGe₂O₆ transforms to an incommensurately modulated magnetic spin state, with k?=?[0.323, 1.0, 0.080] and a helical order of spins within the M1-chains of FeO₆ octahedra. This is determined by neutron-diffraction experiments on a single crystal. Comparison of NaFeGe₂O₆ with NaFeSi₂O₆ is given and it is shown that the magnetic ordering in the latter compound, aegirine, also is complex and is best described by two different spin states, a commensurate one with C2??/c?? symmetry and an incommensurate one, best being described by a spin density wave, oriented within the (1 0 1) plane.     

Risø 1978: Further investigations into the effects of local terrain irregularities on tower-measured wind profiles

Observations of flow over complex terrain taken at Risø during June–July 1978 and numerical studies confirm earlier findings that small variations in surface elevation have significant effects on mean wind profiles. Measured shear stresses in the nonequilibrium region of the flow are consistent with theory but quite different from those obtained assuming simple flux-profile relationships. These findings imply that flux-profile relationships can be quite complicated over other than simple homogeneous terrain.     

Subterranean microorganisms and radioactive waste disposal in Sweden

In 1987, microbiology became a part of the Swedish scientific program for the safe disposal of high level nuclear waste (HLW). The goal of the microbiology program is to understand how subterranean microorganisms will interact with the performance of a future HLW repository. The Swedish research program on subterranean microbiology has mainly been performed at two sites in granitic rock aquifers at depths ranging from 70 m down to 1240 m, the Stripa research mine in the middle of Sweden and the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL) situated on the south eastern coast of Sweden. Some work has also been performed in cooperation with other national or international research groups in Sweden, Canada and at the natural analogue sites Oklo in Gabon and Maqarin in Jordan. The following conclusions are drawn. There is a very high probability of the existence of a deep subterranean biosphere in granitic rock. The documented presence of a deep biosphere implies that relevant microbial reactions should be included in the performance assessment for a HLW repository. A HLW repository will be situated in a subterranean biosphere that is independent of solar energy and photosynthetically produced organic carbon. The ultimate limitation for an active microbial life will be the availability of hydrogen as energy source over time, and hydrogen has indeed been found in most deep groundwaters. Sulphide producing microorganisms are active in environments typical for a Swedish HLW repository, and the potential for microbial corrosion of the copper canisters must be considered. The bentonite buffer around the copper canisters will be a hostile environment for most microbes due to the combination of radiation, heat and low water availability. Discrete microbial species can cope with each of these constraints, and it is theoretically possible that sulphide producing microbes may be active inside a buffer, although the experiments conducted thus far have shown the opposite. Microorganisms have the capability to enzymatically recombine radiolysis oxidants formed by radiation of water. It has earlier been concluded that the migration of radionuclides due to sorption on microorganisms can be neglected. The influence of microbially produced complexing agents remains to be studied at realistic conditions in deep groundwater. Microorganisms have been found in natural alkaline groundwaters, but it could not be conclusively demonstrated that they were in situ viable and growing, rather than just transported there from neutral groundwater. A possible hypothesis based on the obtained results from investigations of natural alkaline groundwaters is that fresh concrete may be a bit too extreme for active life even for the most adaptable microbe – but this remains to be demonstrated.     

Isotopic age and metamorphic history of the banded gneiss at Danmarkshavn,East Greenland

Along the northern part of the East Greenland coast the Caledonian structures are superimposed on an older fold system called the Carolinidian. Traces of this Carolinidian belt are preserved in a few isolated fragments within the Caledonian fold belt. According to Haller (1970) one of these fragments exhibiting the typical Carolinidian NNW to NW-trending infrastructural folds is the peninsula of Germania Land which is accessible near the Danish weather station Danmarkshavn. The rock sampled there is a banded gneiss of granodioritic composition with steeply inclined, NNW-trending layers. Isotopic age determinations yielded essentially two groups of ages: 1) 3,000±150 m.y. (zircon suite and Rb/Sr whole rock analyses of layers) and 2) 320–380 m.y. (Rb/Sr mineral isochrons, U-Th-Pb on sphene, K/Ar on hornblende and biotite). The egg-shaped zircons support a sedimentary origin of the banded gneiss and in conjunction with the Rb/Sr whole rock ages determine the age of formation of the banded gneiss (or its last high grade metamorphism) some 3,000 m.y. ago. No other Precambrian metamorphism or orogeny is recorded in the rock. The ages between 320–380 m.y. date a thermal event of lower amphibolite facies grade related to a late Caledonian spasm.The new isotopic data reveal the existence of very old rocks in the hinterland — away from the direction of thrusting—of the East Greenland Caledonian belt. With respect to the age of the Carolinidian fold system three geological interpretations are compatible with the results of this study:

Ultimate strength of ship hulls under torsion

For a ship hull with large deck openings such as container vessels and some large bulk carriers, the analysis of warping stresses and hatch opening deformations is an essential part of ship structural analyses. It is thus of importance to better understand the ultimate torsional strength characteristics of ships with large hatch openings. The primary aim of the present study is to investigate the ultimate strength characteristics of ship hulls with large hatch openings under torsion. Axial (warping) as well as shear stresses are normally developed for thin-walled beams with open cross sections subjected to torsion. A procedure for calculating these stresses is briefly described. As an illustrative example, the distribution and magnitude of warping and shear stresses for a typical container vessel hull cross section under unit torsion is calculated by the procedure. By theoretical and numerical analyses, it is shown that the influence of torsion induced warping stresses on the ultimate hull girder bending strength is small for ductile hull materials while torsion induced shear stresses will of course reduce the ship hull ultimate bending moment.     

Atmospheric nitrogen inputs into the North Sea: effect on productivity

The ANICE (Atmospheric Nitrogen Inputs into the Coastal Ecosystem) project addressed the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen to the North Sea, with emphasis on coastal effects. ANICE focused on quantifying the deposition of inorganic nitrogen compounds to the North Sea and the governing processes. An overview of the results from modelling and experimental efforts is presented. They serve to identify the role of the atmosphere as a source of biologically essential chemical species to the marine biota. Data from the Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory (UK) are used to evaluate the effect of short episodes with very high atmospheric nitrogen concentrations. One such episode resulted in an average deposition of 0.8 mmol N m⁻² day⁻¹, which has the potential to promote primary productivity of 5.3 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹. This value is compared to long-term effects determined from model results. The total calculated atmospheric deposition to the North Sea in 1999 is 948 kg N km⁻¹, i.e. 0.19 mmol N m⁻² day⁻¹ which has the potential to promote primary productivity of 1.2 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹. Detailed results for August 1999 show strong gradients across the North Sea due to adjacent areas where emissions of NO_x and NH₃ are among the highest in Europe. The average atmospheric deposition to the southern part of the North Sea in August 1999 could potentially promote primary production of 2.0 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹, i.e. 5.5% of the total production at this time of the year in this area of the North Sea. For the entire study area the atmospheric contribution to the primary production per m² is about two-third of this value. Most of the deposition occurs during short periods with high atmospheric concentrations. This atmospheric nitrogen is almost entirely anthropogenic in origin and thus represents a human-induced perturbation of the ecosystem.